Cong backs governor's recommendation for Prez rule in K'taka

The Congress-led UPA government in the Centre is treading cautiously as far as the political situation in Karnataka is concerned.
Both the Union government and the Congress are weighing options that include accepting the Governor H. R. Bharadwaj's recommendation for President's Rule in th

The Congress-led UPA government in the Centre is treading cautiously as far as the political situation in Karnataka is concerned.

Both the Union government and the Congress are weighing options that include accepting the Governor H. R. Bharadwaj's recommendation for President's Rule in the state or ask him to direct Yeddyurappa to go through another confidence motion in the presence of neutral observers.

The Congress, however, appears to be favouring imposition of the President's Rule for a short period to clean up the political mess in the state.

There is near unanimity in the party that this time around Yeddyurappa will not become a martyr if the Central rule is imposed, though a few state leaders are of the view that the party should explore the possibilities of forming a coalition government with the JD-S or prop up a puppet government and extend support from outside.

The party is emboldened by the unexpected support it received from the Left parties against the "unconstitutional" method adopted by the BJP. The assessment is that the CPM, traditionally opposed to Article 356, may not come in the way if Central rule is promulgated in Karnataka.

Union health minister and AICC general secretary incharge of Karnataka Ghulam Nabi Azad was also summoned to the meeting to know his views on the situation.

Last week Azad had visited the state to meet local Congress leaders. Soon after his visit the dissidents revolted against Yeddyurappa triggering the present crisis.

Sources said the Centre and the Congress party would wait for the Karnataka High Court's decision on the petition moved by the disqualified rebel MLAs, which is expected on Tuesday.

The Union cabinet is also expected to meet soon after the high court verdict to take stock of the situation. "People thought it (the BJP) was a party with a difference. Now, the people have seen everything.

It has lost all moral right to be in the government. The police commissioner himself was at the door of the assembly chamber preventing the leader of the Opposition from entering the House," AICC general secretary B. K. Hariprasad, who hails from Karnataka, said.

Party spokesperson Manish Tewary termed the "farcical" trust vote as "murder of democray in the temple of democracy". "What happened in Bangalore today has once again exposed the fascist face of the BJP. The Speaker has misused the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution to save a minority government," Tewary said.

He said never before has the spirit of democracy been trampled so mercilessly. The CPM said: "The proceedings were a brazen constitutional impropriety. The Yeddyurappa government cannot remain in office unless it establishes its majority through a division of votes on the floor of the Assembly."

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